BMW attacks EU car emissions limits

Norbert Reithofer, BMW's chief executive, has condemned the European commission's plans to set a limit of 130g/km on CO2 emissions from all new cars by 2012 as "physically impossible" and "economically unsound".

Germany's car industry has led the campaign against the stringent controls proposed by Stavros Dimas, EU environment commissioner, claiming they would destroy Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Porsche and BMW.

Mr Reithofer said different vehicle classes should have different emission limits and as small cars dominated the market they should make a greater contribution.